Jaina Art and Architecture Vol 01

SR No.: 011012
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: A Ghosh
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith
Publication Year: 1974
Total Pages: 345
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 15 MB

Page 157

SOUTH INDIA
8. Karungalakkudi (second-first centuries B.C.). On a hill called Paficapandavarkuffa'in this village are found caverns with beds. The cavern is called pult in a Brahmi record of the place.
9. Kilavalavu (socond-first centuries B.C.). The Pafcapándavamalai in Kilavalavu consists of huge boulders and caverns. The Brāhmi inscription here records the foundation of the monastery by a lay-devotee from Tonti. Later sculptures of Päráva and other Tirtharkaras are found on the boulders.
10. Tiruvatavur (second-first centuries B.C.). This village also contains caverns with Brāhmi inscriptions. Trinmangalam Taluk
11. Vikk iramangalam (second-first centuries B.C.). In the local hill called Nagamalai is a huge boulder known as Undan-kallu with caverns, beds and Brahmt inscriptions recording the names of people who occupied them or gifted them. Nilakkottai Taluk
12. Mettuppatti (second-first centuries B.C.). A hill called Siddharmalai (the hill of the Siddhas) in this village contains caverns with beds. The lower portion of the rock containing the beds is fashioned like the petals of a lotus. On the same platform is found a pair of foot-prints in relief with a lotus between the two, inside a circle. The foot-prints are said to be those of Sahajanandanátha, an exponent of the Tantric creed (?). There are nine Brahmi inscriptions giving the names of the donors, assignable to the second-first centuries B.C.
Caverns with or without beds are also found in the hills at Uttamapalaiyam, Aivarmalai (Aiyampalaiyam), Kuppalnattam (Poygaimalai), and Palani (Panchavarnappadukkai), all in Madurai District. No Brāhmi inscriptions have been reported from these sites, although their Jaina associations are clearly indicated by their sculptures datable in eighth-ninth centuries.
RAMANATHAPURAM DISTRICT 13 & 14. Pulaiyarpatti (fifth century A.D.) and Kunnakkudi (third-fourth centuries A.D.) in Tiruppattur Taluk of the above District contain Brāhmi ins. criptions, but in both the cases the cave-temples which were excavated belong
Amanical Report on Sorah beplan Ipteraphy (M.E.R. to the following pages), 1907-08, part IL para 99, fascription 47 of 1908